New Delhi: India achieved another major milestone in space exploration as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F17) successfully launched the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Friday.
The rocket lifted off from the Second Launch Pad at 2:55 am IST in a pre-dawn mission. Soon after launch, EOS-05 was successfully placed into its designated Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO).
EOS-05 is an advanced Earth observation satellite designed to provide continuous imaging of India from an altitude of nearly 36,000 kilometres above Earth.
The mission is notable as EOS-05 is India’s first imaging satellite designed to operate from a geosynchronous orbit. The satellite will support Earth observation applications, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The GSLV-F17 marks the 19th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. The 51.7-metre-tall rocket has a liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.
The mission used the 4-metre-diameter ogive composite payload fairing configuration. The launch was conducted from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Reacting to the successful mission, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh described it as another giant leap for India in space in a post on X.
Singh congratulated ISRO on the successful GSLV-F17/EOS-05 launch, calling it “another giant leap for India in Space.”
He highlighted EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite and India’s first imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit, with advanced visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral imaging capabilities.
The minister also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for strengthening India’s space capabilities and its position as a global space power.
